More than 80 percent of 224 respondents to a recent online poll at theheraldbulletin.com said that trips to Asia by local economic development officials are not worth the expense to taxpayers.
The poll question was published in The Herald Bulletin the same day the newspaper printed an article about plans for three officials — one from Madison County and two from Anderson — to take a 14-day trip to China and South Korea. The poll results were printed in the newspaper the next day.
Though the poll is far from scientific, the clear majority response indicates a healthy skepticism on the part of the public toward costly economic development efforts.
Most people’s opinions are informed by results. If they don’t see local investment and jobs coming from trips to Asia, they question the value of the effort and whether it is a prudent use of taxpayer money.
Economic development officials will tell you that the value of such trips is not so easily quantified. They point out that relationship building with businesses — especially in Asia — is all about personal contact. It might take several trips overseas, coupled with visits here by foreign business people, to persuade an international company to site a plant in Madison County.
In the end, it is possible that no new businesses will land in Madison County as a result of these economic development trips to Asia. But if our officials don’t go, there will be almost no chance of it happening.
The upcoming trip will cost a total of about $24,000, according to county Corporation for Economic Development Director Rob Sparks, who will be one of the three on the trip. The $24,000 includes meals, interpreters, hotel rooms, airfare and other expenses for the three officials combined.
Economic development officials have the responsibility of providing as much detail as possible about such trips, including what the expense is, so that the public knows the trips are more than mere junkets. In the story published Tuesday in The Herald Bulletin, the three local officials detailed what the upcoming trip will comprise and what they hope to accomplish. (Find the story at theheraldbulletin.com by searching for “South Korea”.)
Some economic development officials worry that possible deals may be quashed by leaking sensitive information to the public, and that is a legitimate concern. Officials also worry that public expectations can be inflated by media reports of economic development efforts in the media. There’s a danger there, too.
But the greater danger is the potential public perception, in the vacuum created by secrecy, that public money is being spent without a high likelihood of an eventual payoff in new jobs for Madison County.
Editorials
Editorial: Asian trips can reap big rewards
- Editorials
-
-
Editorial: AHS grad rates moving up, must be pushed ever higher
A diploma is a must, but it has to mean something. Anderson High School must do this the right way, not cutting corners and passing students through classes, but making them accountable for learning the subject matter.
-
Editorial: With changes to program, why not begin recycling?
The public has to understand the importance of recycling aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, glass, newspapers and certain plastics. Besides minimizing a community’s waste, recycling saves energy, natural resources and the environment.
-
Editorial: Reality returns after Super Bowl mania
While we loved what the Super Bowl did for our reputation, it’s time to get back to the real world. Let’s recap the lost week.
-
You Said It: About contract, 'Teen Mom,' State of the City
Each Monday, The Herald Bulletin publishes “You Said It,” a compilation of reader comments from www.theheraldbulletin.com, coupled with responses by the newspaper’s editorial board.
-
Editorial: Smith speech shows mayor aiming high
The bottom line in Mayor Kevin Smith’s State of the City address Tuesday during the Anderson Rotary Club’s luncheon at Anderson Country Club was simple: To attract investment, you have to make investments.
-
Editorial: Bill offered by state Senate honors Fourth Amendment
No law is ever going to rid domestic situations of their subjectivity, but people have a right to be secure in their homes, and the police need to keep this in mind when they come knocking.
-
Editorial: Burton's retirement was overdue
Dan Burton has been a fixture in Indiana politics for nearly a half century. A staunch Republican, Burton made waves in the Statehouse and in Congress, but now it’s over. Burton recently announced his retirement and will not seek re-election in Indiana’s District 5.
-
Editorial: Tempered excitement for call-center jobs is prudent
Immediately after city officials announced the location of a new call center in Anderson on Jan. 25, the “Yeah, buts ...” started.
-
Editorial: Trigger law would give parents too much power
If the state is going to push for charter schools, it has to be a measured action with plenty of debate. There is a reason why the term trigger-happy has negative connotations. It means a knee-jerk reaction with little thought.
-
You Said It: About Grandview, new Colts coach and the APA incident
The Anderson Parks board has created a committee to study options for Grandview Golf Course and its restaurant. (Article published Jan. 17.)
- More Editorials Headlines
-
